Here's a look at the big four games to watch on Sunday and the big three matchups:

THE FOUR BIG GAMES ON SUNDAY:

1. Denver Broncos (9-1) at New England Patriots (7-3)

You know the quarterbacks. Don’t sell short the two defences. New England’s injury-damaged unit continues to play well and gave the Pats some early-season wins while Tom Brady and the offence struggled. The Broncos haven’t allowed more than 21 points since losing in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, but losing safety Rahim Moore (knee) hurts.

2. Indianapolis Colts (7-3) at Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

Otherwise known as the Bruce Arians Appreciation Bowl. The man who ably took over the Colts for 12 games last year (winning nine) while head coach Chuck Pagano battled leukemia, is now head coach of the Cards. Arizona’s lights-out secondary thus has insider info on Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, courtesy of Arians.

3. Dallas Cowboys (5-5) at New York Giants (4-6)

Look at their records. Remember when this game used to mean something in the NFC East? Well, SURPRISE! It still does. If Dallas wins they’re tied in 1st with the Philadelphia Eagles; if New York wins they’re one game behind Philly. The Giants are catching the stumbling Cowboys at the right time.

4. Carolina Panthers (7-3) at Miami Dolphins (5-5)

Think the NFL’s worst offensive line can hold off one of the league’s best pass rushes to give Ryan Tannehill enough time to hurt them? Exactly. The Panthers are winning with exceptional defence, and because quarterback Cam Newton has found his rookie mojo.

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MUST-WIN SUNDAY

The team that must win, or else

Green Bay Packers (5-5)

If they lose to the Minnesota Vikings, they’ll be sub-.500 before playing at Detroit against the Lions next Thursday to kick off the U.S. Thanksgiving Day triple-header. Can’t happen. With Carolina still red hot, it looks now like the NFC North will produce just one playoff team. Temp-quarterback Scott Tolzien and the Pack must keep pace with Detroit and Chicago.

NOTE: Local American Fox and CBS affiliates carry games as well, which might be in addition to the above.

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FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL THROW

San Francisco 49ers (6-4) at Washington Redskins (3-7) 8:40 p.m. EDT

How much lustre has this quarterback matchup lost since the NFL made the schedule in April? Last season ended with Washington’s Robert Griffin III and San Fran’s Colin Kaepernick at the vanguard of new-age NFL quarterbacks. But this stat sums up their regression: in 2012 the twosome combined for 30 touchdown passes against only eight interceptions. This year: 25 touchdowns combined vs. 17 interceptions.

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THE 3 BIG MATCHUPS

Calvin Johnson vs. Darrelle Revis

The NFL’s best wide receiver against its best cornerback. Or at least the best corner until undergoing reconstructive ACL surgery last fall. Revis this week said he’s still not all the way back. But expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to match him up often against the Detroit Lions wideout.

Demaryius Thomas vs. Aqib Talib

Deion Sanders calls Talib the best cover corner this year in the NFL. If Talib is healthy enough to play (he was questionable with a hip injury), the New England Patriots likely will match him up as often as possible against the Denver Broncos’ top receiving deep threat, Thomas.

Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady

It’s Manning-Brady XIV. If you think Manning is tired of losing to Brady (who has won 7-of-10 of their regular-season meetings, and 2-of-3 playoff matchups), you’re right. You know Manning’s top four receiving weapons, but Brady appears to have all four of his – tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and running back Shane Vereen -- finally at full health together.

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SUNDAY BRUNCH

A quick-hit breakfast item to whet your Week 12 appetite:

Andy Dalton, Tony Romo and Matt Stafford are tied for third among passers with 21 touchdowns. That just shows how far ahead Nos. 1 and 2 are -- Peyton Manning (34) and Drew Brees (28).

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Perhaps the most tangible proof that Robert Griffin III’s struggles as a passer are the root cause of the Washington Redskins’ regression on offence this year is that running back Alfred Morris still is averaging more than five yards per carry -- 5.1 to be precise. And his 918 yards rank behind only LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch. So the run threat is there for Washington, a necessary element in Mike Shanahan’s attack. But as the head coach suggested this week, Griffin has to be less greedy and check down when his downfield receivers aren’t wide open, as they were so often last year.

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The extent of Geno Smith’s recent struggles, quantified: in the New York Jets’ past five games, he has completed just 51% of his passes for one touchdown and eight interceptions. And in each of his past two starts he has thrown but eight completions. If Mark Sanchez did that, can you imagine the Big Apple criticism?

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A year ago this week, Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller led the NFL with a 6.6 yards per carry average. Minnesota Vikings rusher Adrian Peterson was second at 5.8. Fifty-two weeks later, Spiller is averaging 4.1 and Peterson 4.4.

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THE BIG NUMBER

6

Number of teams averaging 400 total yards per game on offence. A year ago at this time, only two teams were: New England (436) and Detroit (413). Denver leads this year (456), far ahead of second-place Green Bay (417). Detroit is fourth (414).

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THIS JUST IN

Saturday's news updates:

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to terms late Friday with cornerback Tramaine Brock on a four-year, $16-million contract extension. Brock will make his first career start Monday night in Washington.

An undrafted free agent, Brock unseated Nnamdi Asomugha and has been impressive the more he has played in games.

* * *

Washington tight end Jordan Reed won’t play Monday against San Francisco because of a concussion, ESPN reported Saturday.

Reed, a third-round draft pick, has caught 45 passes for 499 yards and three touchdowns in a standout rookie season.

Here's a look at the big four games to watch on Sunday and the big three matchups:

THE FOUR BIG GAMES ON SUNDAY:

1. Denver Broncos (9-1) at New England Patriots (7-3)

You know the quarterbacks. Don’t sell short the two defences. New England’s injury-damaged unit continues to play well and gave the Pats some early-season wins while Tom Brady and the offence struggled. The Broncos haven’t allowed more than 21 points since losing in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, but losing safety Rahim Moore (knee) hurts.

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Sports writers punched these words — or similar ones — into press-box typewriters in the 70s. They clumsily finger-padded them onto Tandys in the 80s and 90s. They hard-tapped them onto laptops last decade. And, on Monday night, they soft-tapped them onto their PCs, iPads and cracker-thin MacBooks: